Information from the population register; application for simple or extended information from the population register

The recipient of the information has the obligation to inform the data subject in accordance with Article 14 (1) - (4) GDPR. This does not apply to the cases listed in Art. 14 (5) GDPR if and to the extent that

• the data subject already has the information,
• the provision of this information proves to be impossible or would require a disproportionate effort
• the obtaining or disclosure is expressly regulated by German or Union law to which the controller is subject and which provides for appropriate measures to protect the legitimate interests of the data subject, or
• the personal data is subject to professional secrecy under German or Union law, including a statutory duty of confidentiality.

In the case of simple or extended information from the population register, the obligation to provide information pursuant to Art. 14 GDPR also does not apply if

• its fulfillment would impair a legal interest, in particular the assertion of legal claims, unless the legitimate interest of the data subject in the fulfillment of the information obligation prevails.

Simple information from the population register

If you are looking for a person, you can apply to the registration authority in whose area you know the person you are looking for has lived for simple information from the population register. If you can provide enough specific information about this person, you will receive information about their first and last name, doctor's degree, current addresses and - if the person is deceased - this fact. The provision of simple information from the population register is only permitted if the identity of the person about whom information is requested can be clearly established on the basis of the information provided in the request about the surname, former surname, first names, date of birth, gender or an address, and the person or body requesting the information declares that the data will not be used for the purposes of advertising or address trading. If several persons meet the search criteria based on your details (e.g. first name and surname only), it is not possible to provide information. If necessary, the registration authority will inform you of this or ask you for further criteria (e.g. date of birth).

Information will only be provided on current names and addresses. This means that if you enquire about the home of a person you are looking for at a previously responsible registration authority, this authority will also provide you with information about the address at which the person moved away. The registration authority does not have to check with the new registration authority (address of departure) whether the person you are looking for still lives there before providing information. If you have moved several times, several requests for information may therefore be necessary before you find out a person's current address.

You will not receive any information about the person's maiden name, previous names or date of birth, for example.

Of course, you can also request information on a large number of residents known by name (e.g. for class reunions). Here too, however, each individual person must be clearly identifiable by name.

Simple information from the population register can also be provided automatically (see "Online procedure"). In this case, the requirements for identifying the person being searched for are more stringent: in addition to the responsible registration authority, the family name or a former family name and at least one corresponding first name must be provided for the person being searched for. In addition, an (possibly outdated) address or two further pieces of data from the list in accordance with Section 49 (5) of the Federal Registration Act must be provided for the person being searched for, whereby the data on gender and marital status may not be used together.

Extended registration register information

If you can credibly demonstrate a legitimate interest, you can also be provided with extended information about the surname, first names, doctorate, current addresses and, if applicable, the death of a person. You can obtain data on previous names, date and place of birth and, if born abroad, also the country, marital status, current nationalities, previous addresses, date of moving in and out, surname and first names and address of the legal representative, spouse or civil partner and date and place of death and, if deceased abroad, also the country. The term "legitimate interest" here includes any interest of a legal, economic or non-material nature that can be recognized as worthy of protection.

Group information

Information from the population register about a large number of unnamed persons may only be provided if it is in the public interest. Public interest is understood to mean the interest of the general public, which must be distinguished from the interest of individual persons or groups. It must be a national public interest. The determination of whether a public interest exists can generally be made by the registration authority itself or, in cases of doubt, by the higher supervisory authority. Only the date of birth, gender, current nationality, current addresses, date of moving in and out and marital status may be used as data for the composition of the group of persons. In addition to the fact of belonging to the group, data on surname, first names, doctor's degree, age, gender, nationalities, current addresses and legal representatives with surname, first names and address may be provided.

• as accurate as possible information about the person you are looking for

  (Combination possible of: Surname, first name, date of birth, previous names, gender, address)

• If the data are used for commercial purposes, these must be stated. It is prohibited to use data from a civil register information for commercial purposes without this purpose being stated at the time of the request.

The prerequisite for the provision of simple information from the population register is that you do not use this information for advertising or address trading purposes and that you declare this to the registration authority.

To obtain extended information from the population register, you must demonstrate a legitimate interest.

For group information, a public interest must be justified.

• 10 euros, provided that information from the population register can be provided in writing without further inquiries or investigations
• 9.52 euros (minimum) for civil register information via the "Bürgerauskunft" portal
• up to 15 euros per case for extended information from the population register or if findings are required as a result of inquiries, investigations or recourse to registration documents outside the population register